LA Mayoral Candidate Defends Motherhood as Qualification in Heated Exchange
Rae Huang, a 43-year-old democratic socialist candidate for Mayor of Los Angeles, engaged in a tense confrontation with a radio reporter during an interview, where she asserted that her experience as a mother and community organiser sufficiently qualifies her for the role. The exchange with KNX News reporter Craig Fiegener grew heated as Huang was pressed on her policies regarding city budgeting and policing.
Huang's Bold Claims on Qualifications and Housing
In audio obtained by The New York Post, Huang passionately defended her candidacy, stating, 'I'm a neighbor here in Los Angeles. I'm a mother here in Los Angeles. I'm a community organiser here in Los Angeles. I've been here for over ten years organising with our community members. That should be résumé enough.' She emphasised her local roots and maternal role as core credentials for managing the city's affairs.
When questioned about solutions for Los Angeles's budget difficulties, Huang praised a proposed tax on billionaires, arguing that the revenue should be directed toward housing. 'We will be benefiting off of these CEO taxes,' she declared. 'We need to make sure that this money, from our CEOs, our billionaires, goes into housing, which we desperately need here in Los Angeles.' Her stance aligns with her campaign's Housing for All policy, aiming to address the city's affordability crisis.
Clash Over Police Funding and Accountability
The interview took a contentious turn when Fiegener probed Huang on police funding. Huang criticised current expenditures, claiming, 'Our money is going into band-aid solutions,' and specifically targeted the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). She alleged that the LAPD had 'doubled their staff without the city... approval,' accusing the department of operating without proper oversight.
Fiegener corrected her, noting that the LAPD had not doubled in size but was tentatively seeking to add 240 officers, as per a City Council vote last May. This adjustment came after Mayor Karen Bass had initially requested 480 new recruits, with Police Chief Jim McDonnel warning that fewer officers could lead to a 'public safety crisis.' Huang remained unyielding, insisting on a lack of accountability in local government and describing the LAPD as going 'rogue.'
Defending Experience and Campaign Vision
As the questioning continued, Huang faced scepticism about her leadership experience at such a large scale, given the mayor's responsibility for a $13 billion city budget. She responded with confidence, 'I'm gonna do it. I'm excited to get started.' In an attempt to bolster her case, she compared herself to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, incorrectly stating he had no prior experience before taking office. Fiegener corrected this, pointing out Mamdani's service as a state assemblyman, which prompted Huang to accuse the reporter of bias.
'This is exactly the kind of pushback that we get from media people like yourself,' she snapped, interrupting Fiegener. He defended his line of questioning, emphasising that constituents deserve thorough scrutiny of all candidates. The exchange concluded with Huang making a minor error about her age, stating she was 42 before correcting herself to 43.
Campaign Platform and Future Prospects
Huang officially launched her campaign in November at Los Angeles City Hall, running on a platform that includes:
- Housing for All to combat rising costs
- Fast and free bus services to improve public transport
- Increasing the minimum wage and strengthening worker rights
- Her Real Safety slogan: 'fighting poverty, not the poor'
Her campaign website articulates a vision for a Los Angeles where families can thrive without being priced out, workers are protected, and public safety focuses on care and prevention. As the mayoral race progresses, Huang's confrontational interview highlights the challenges she faces in convincing voters of her readiness for the role, amidst ongoing debates over policing, housing, and fiscal management in the city.
